Alexander Wang X H&M

Alexander Wang X H&M - Wish list

For a long time now I have had a lot of adoration for the amazing collections of Alexander Wang, I love his contemporary style, so chic, edgy and often monotone. What could be better! I have especially fallen in love with his hand bags, alas that will have to wait until the money comes rolling in! But as soon as I heard about Alexander Wang collaborating with H&M one of my favourite high street shops, I was thrilled! Since early this year I couldn't wait to see what pieces they would come out with! Last week they finally released a preview of the collection, again the contemporary style of Wang, but the whole range has a sports luxe style and some pieces aimed at gym/sports wear. I'm not a huge fan usually of the sports luxe style as I don't really have an athletic figure! But I think that some of the pieces from this collection are quite wearable even if your not so sure about the style as I am. Here's a few pieces I'm eyeing up:

From Left to Right:

Scuba Bag - £69.99

Short Top in White - £29.98

Short Scuba Top in Grey - £34.99

Biker Jacket in a Wool Blend - £99.99

 

From Left to Right:

Top with a Perforated Pattern in White - £79.99

Leather Backpack - £129.99

Images from H&M website

I have to say these were some gorgeous pieces, very minimalistic, quite unique and finally more affordable! I'm particularly in love with the scuba grey crop top, I can imagine it paired with a high waisted flared midi skirt I have - perfect for winter! It's a shame I can't buy it all! I seriously recommend having a look on the H&M website for a taste of the amazing Alexander Wang brand, but at a more purse friendly cost! Only two days to go, mark it in your diary people! The Alexander Wang X H&M collection is available in selected stores and online.

So does anyone else like anything from my picks? What do you think of the highly anticipated collection? Please comment below!

Thanks for reading :)

Did you see my last post on Monthly Reads: October 

Maybe my Autumn Haircare post is more your thing?

Good Reads

Monthly Reads: October

Welcome back! Firstly sorry for the little lack in posts this week! I've been down with a cold and the prospect of taking photographs for my blog did not appeal to me! Though saying that it gave me a good idea for a topic, being ill means laying in blankets and reading...with a cup of tea of course. So here I thought I would include some reading material people might like, I know I did! Some of these were new discoveries for me and I had to share....Enjoy!

This online magazine is completely new to me, shockingly it was its 5th birthday a few weeks ago, how had I not seen this gem before! This issue of Stylist shown is a few weeks old now, but it is one of my favourites because of the wonderful Lena Dunham acting as guest editor, what could be better?! This is an online magazine as I said, the articles can be viewed on the stylist website, or if you have an android or apple phone/tablet then it is free to subscribe and read it as a proper magazine. It is a weekly instalment of fashion, beauty, books, people, lifestyle and travel - and it's amazing! The content is very interesting covering a range of topics, it's intellectual without being dull, very up to date without being gossipy or shallow. Stylist magazine is a wonderful combination of topics which all women would love to read about, I highly recommend it. Plus their photography is brilliant, if your interested like me!

Shown above : John Steinbeck's East of Eden, Disegno Magazine issue 7

Firstly I will talk about an incredible novel called East of Eden, by the classic writer John Steinbeck. I don't even know where to start with this book, it is just simply amazing and completely consuming. The story is set at the beginning of the twentieth century and ends post World War 1, it goes through the life stories of the generations between two families closely intertwined, The Hamiltons and The Trasks. The whole novel is set in the Salinas Valley in California, which Steinbeck describes so beautifully and detailed for all the senses, it is also the place Steinbeck grew up in. I can't say too much about the book's plot without giving it away, a story about two families affairs I admit seemed dull even to me, but there are so many unexpected plot twists and unusual characters which makes this book an absolutely compelling read! To top it off, this novel is also said to be based on Steinbeck's family history, he is even briefly mentioned within the story. I found this out about half way through reading the book and thought hell, this man has got the most insane and interesting history, you wouldn't believe it is factual! I am someone that is usually more of a fiction fact, the more fantasy the better! But more and more I'm loving novels such as these, and East of Eden I have to say is one of the best books I have read, I couldn't recommend it more!

I got the recommendation for this book by youtuber Jenn Im of Clothes Encounters, I love her channel, her sense of style and recommendations are always spot on for me, definitely check her out if you haven't already!

This final 'good read' of mine is the Disegno Magazine, here's some pages shown above of what it's like inside. Don't worry there is actually writing and articles in this magazine, but being a photographer I was drawn to these pages! This magazine is a Biannual covering Design, Architecture and Fashion, this would undoubtedly be amazing for students doing a topic related to one of these, for it's fresh and unique finds in the creative sector. I even loved it for the incredible photography and found it an amazing source of inspiration when on my course. But after leaving University I still find this magazine extremely interesting. Disegno magazine may not be to everyone's taste, but for anyone that is interested in the creative arts or the topics the magazine specialises in, it will be a hit! It's a little pricey at £8, but for how thick it is and the quality - which seems to me as more of a book - it is worth it, plus theres only two in a year! I find Disegno reads really well, nothing too overly pretentious or technical, it's simplistic and to the point. I find this magazine is a good coffee table piece, I leave it out and I am constantly picking it up to look at and so do many others! Give it a try if Art & Design is your thing.

These books and magazines have been keeping me particularly occupied this month, especially through my 'feeling sorry for myself cold'! Please comment below or via Twitter what's been your favourite thing to read recently, have you any recommendations you'd like to share? I'm always looking for an excuse to buy more books on amazon!

As always, thanks for reading! :) 

 

 

Autumn Staples: Make up

Autumn Staples:

Makeup.

Autumn is officially here already! That means it's time to whip out your long lasting make up, woolly jumpers and trusty boots. It may just be me but in the colder months I tend to lean more towards the matte side of things, my favourite foundation this summer had been the Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum. It gave the perfect semi dewy finish for summer, I have oily skin and I hadn't expected it to work so well! But for the past few weeks I have been reaching for my longer lasting, more matte make up goodies. Here are my picks:

(Swatches are Left - Mac Honeylove and Right - Maybelline SuperStay Lipstick in 260 Always Plum)

From left to right they are:

Maybelline Fit Me Concealer - (Shade 10) I wear the lightest colour, not only because I'm pale but the highlighting effect really brightens the face. I switch to this concealer over Autumn/winter as it's so hydrating, unlike the Bobbi Brown 'creamy concealer' which is everything but!

Maybelline SuperStay 14hr Lipstick - (Shade 260 Always Plum) I know of some people that really don't get along with this lipstick or find it too matte, but for me this is amazing! Very intense colour pay off from the whole line, a little drying but nothing a little lip balm can't sort out. This colour in particular I love because of the vampy rich look it gives, which many seem to love this time of year.

Mac - (Matte finish, shade Honeylove) Yet another matte lipstick, but mac's formulas I find so creamy even when it is matte, so it's very comfortable on the lips. All year round a nude lip is perfect, this one especially for the matte finish but also the shading is quite close to that of Kylie Jenner's, lips that everyone seems to want to get!

Revlon ColourStay Foundation - (Ivory, Combination/oily) This is my foundation of choice for Autumn/Winter, as with every year's trends skin starts to go matter, more perfected. Usually I like to use matte foundations all year round because I was so oily, but I've found getting older my skin is getting dryer. But either way I still love my trusty Revlon ColourStay, it still allows my skin to breathe and gets a little shiny by the end of the day which looks healthy to me.

Benefit The Pore Fessional - One of my favourite primers, this one is more silicone based rather than water based. I find these type of primers just glide over the skin better, making pores and lines look almost airbrushed. This just makes the skin look so flawless and makes the foundation last much longer, which is what we need in colder and probably wetter weather!

Bobbi Brown Long Wear Cream Shadow - (shade 1 Bone) I first bought this last winter, now I don't know how I got by without it! This cream shadow really mattes down the eyelids and creates a neutral base to add shadows to, I have had very oily eyelids for a long time and couldn't really wear much more than eyeliner. This cream shadow creates a great barrier against oils and keeps shadows on top looking vivid and lasting longer without creases.

Soap and Glory Love at First Blush - (shade - Pink, pop and pearl) This blush, as with many soap and glory products are just beautiful to look at! But of course this blush is so pretty on the cheeks too, it's a little more subtle so I wear it a little higher on my cheeks as a highlighter also, as it has an iridescent look to it. Its quite a dusty Rosy colour when swirled together, because of the added light bronze which adds a healthy glow after all that matte finish make up.

These are my Autumn staples, in the next post I'll share some of my skin care picks of the season. Who else likes these products? Or does anyone have their own faves they'd like to share? Please comment below I'd love to hear from you!

Thanks for reading :)

Welcome!

Hello readers! I'm Laura Wright, a photography graduate currently based in sheffield. For years I have read blogs on a range of topics and loved the idea of starting one myself, but being away at uni for the past 3 years and going back and forth to different cities made me think I didnt really have time for it! But now I've just graduated I have enough time to finally get involved in the blogging community, excited! There a lot of topics I enjoy reading about and am interested in myself, so there will be a good range of content on here. From fashion and beauty, to food and DIY, Lifestyle is so full of vaiety it may not be to everyone's taste, but I will really enjoy talking to fellow bloggers or readers about their thoughts or their own interests. Please feel free to get involved!

Thanks for reading! :)